William Frederick Maddock was the son of William Jones Maddock and Mary Francis Moses from the village of Hope. He was the middle of three brothers, Arthur James was born in 1891 and died the same year, William Frederick was born in 1883 and Percy was born 1889.
Using www.ancestry.com we can find William Frederick in the 1901 census living at the Red Lion public house in Hope with his grandmother Elizabeth Moses 63 who was the publican. Also listed on the census was William’s younger brother Percy who was 12 years old. William Frederick was 18 and listed as a brewers clerk.
In the 1911 census William was 28 years of age and was still working as a brewers clerk. His grandmother Elizabeth was then a widow of 73 years of age; she was listed as a licenced Victualler of the Red Lion Hope. Percy Maddock was 22 and listed as a barman.
William Frederick’s Army Service Records have survived and are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk. He joined the army and attested in Caergwrle on the 6th March 1915. He was 32 years of age, a Clerk and gave his address as The Red Lion, Hope. He was 5 feet 10inches tall, His chest measured 37 inches with a 2 inch expansion range. He named his next of kin as his Father Williams Jones Maddock of 2 Llay Terrace, Caergwrle. He was appointed to the 17th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He joined his regiment in on the 7th March 1915 in Llandudno.
(On 16th June 1915 at the age of 26, William’s brother Percy Maddock unfortunately passed away. In his will he left his substantial effects to Private William Frederick Maddock of the 17th battalion RWF, totalling £689 4s. 8d).
William was promoted to Corporal on the 27th November 1915. His medal index card states that he first entered a Theatre of War (France) on the 4th December 1915. He was granted Leave of Absence from the 15th June 1916 to the 22nd June 1916. (It is not clear if he went home for that week.) He was killed in action on the 9th July 1916, a total of 7 months service.
The 17th Battlion of the RWF was formed in Llandudno on 2nd February 1915. Training commenced in August at Winchester and during the first week of December left for France as part of the 38th division 115th Brigade.
During the first week of July 1916 the 38th division was in the trenches looking at the task that faced them, the biggest wood on the Somme. Mametz wood covered an area of 200 hundred acres, from their positions in the trenches this would mean a downhill advance followed by an uphill attack to make contact with the enemy. The main battle started on the 7th of July which was repulsed by the Germans and resulted in 400 dead. An unsupported attack by the 17th division on the 9th of July was completely unsuccessful.
The fighting for Mametz Wood was over by the 12th July and cost the 38th Welsh Division over 4,000 casualties in four days.
It is likely that William Frederick Maddock lost his life during this battle.
After his death the army noted in internal memos that William’s personal effects were to be dispatched to Mr William Edward Jones c/o Messers Allington, Hughes and Bate, Solicitors, 4, Regent Street Wrexham. Another memo stated that William’s medals were to go to Miss Ellen Stone, Prince of Wales, Leeswood, Nr Mold. His memorial plaque (Death Penny) and Scroll were to go to his father Mr W J Maddock 2 Llay Terrace, Caergwrle.
William left a Will.
William Frederick Maddock of The Red Lion, Hope, Flintshire 17th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers died 9th July 1916 in France. probate London 18th December to William Edward Jones Cashier. Effects £776 .. 1sh ..9d (England and wales National Probate Calendar)
